Aussie fears China could take over Taiwanese island

Aidan Ellis-Patterson, 34, moved to Kinmen Island three years ago An Australian living on a Taiwanese island just 3km from China has warned the communist government could easily invade as Beijing flexes its muscles on the world stage. The small island, which has 140,000 residents, is controlled by Taiwan after it was occupied by Nationalist forces who fled China following the country's civil war in 1949. The small island, which has 140,000 residents, is controlled by Taiwan after it was occupied by Nationalist forces who fled China following the country's civil war in 1949 Kinmen has become a tourist attraction for being the only place in Taiwan where the flags of Taiwan and China can be waved together There is normally lots of movement between the mainland and Kinmen, particularly from Chinese tourists visiting for day trips Historically Beijing has used the 'carrot and stick' technique to seek what it sees as the unification of China, melding honeyed promises of shared prosperity with warnings of annihilation for Taiwan's 23 million inhabitants. Taiwanese marines have taken part in anti-invasion drills on Kinmen Island But there is growing bipartisan discussion in the US over whether a switch to strategic clarity is now needed given China's more assertive approach.